Memorial Day is a day to remember heroes

May 30 has been designated Memorial Day. It is a national holiday where we can take a moment to honor the men and women that gave their lives in the defense of our country and I thank the Good Lord that we are still a free nation and  we can stand tall and  proud as we honor those men and  women that have given their all so that we might have the opportunity to salute Old Glory, our symbol of freedom and  that we can have the opportunity to give thanks  to our God, who allows the United States of America to remain a free and democratic country. 

The Bible tells us, in John chapter 16, that we are not to fear, but rely on the strength of God. The chapter finishes with this verse. 

John 16:33These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” 

So, in the words of my Granddad, Papa Hop, “ The Good Lord gave mankind a will of their own, and He also gave us good sense  to know that if we match our will to the will of God, we will find that life is much smoother! So as we observe Memorial Day, know that The patriot’s blood is the seed of freedom’s tree. President Harry Truman noted that, “Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices.” 

We are told, “This is the day we pay homage to all those who didn’t come home. This is not Veterans Day, it’s not a celebration, it is a day of solemn contemplation over the cost of freedom.” On this day, take time to remember those who have fallen. And then, we must put the freedoms they died for to greater and nobler uses. You see, “Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. it flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.” We don’t know them all, but we owe them all. May we never forget freedom isn’t free. And as Herbert Hoover once said, “Here men endured that a nation might live.”  

President John F. Kennedy, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter the words, but to live by them.” This series of quotes from President Ronald Reagan says it all, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”  And he continued, “May we never forget our fallen comrades. Freedom isn’t free and if words cannot repay the debt we owe these soldiers, surely with our actions we must strive to keep faith with them and with the vision that led them to battle and to final sacrifice. The United States and the freedom for which it stands, the freedom for which they died, must endure and prosper. Their lives remind us that freedom is not bought cheaply. It has a cost; it imposes a burden. And just as they whom we commemorate were willing to sacrifice, so too must we - in a less final, less heroic way - be willing to give of ourselves.Today, the United States stands as a beacon of liberty and democratic strength before the community of nations. We are resolved to stand firm against those who would destroy the freedoms we cherish. We are determined to achieve an enduring peace - a peace with liberty and with honor. This determination, this resolve, is the highest tribute we can pay to the many who have fallen in the service of our Nation.”                             

So, we must realize that Old Glory, our flag, is more than a banner. It is recognized throughout the world as a symbol that stands for liberty, and freedom and finally, every American should thrill to the words of Lee Greenwood when he sings, “And I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.”   

A Day For Heroes 

The casket was draped with our flag, “Old Glory,”

A hero come home from the war,

A small crowd poised for the rest of the story,

Their faith in mankind to restore.

His comrades stood there, silent in their salute,

Solemn as they paid their respect,

Each shared an invincible bond so resolute,

This brotherly love unchecked.

A scenario played out through eons of time,

As a nation sought a free life,

And stood firm against oppression and tyrant’s crime,

Bold in moments of strife.

Men and women, side by side, through war’s perilous fight,

To keep foe from freedom’s shore,

These gallant heroes, liberty’s fires to ignite,

A free nation for evermore.

So we stand on Memorial Day, hand over heart,

Respect for a life that was lost,

For America’s freedom, they did their part,

You see, freedom comes at a great cost.

We thank our God for heroes that vowed to keep us free,

As Old Glory is proudly displayed,

We stand tall and blink a tear, knowing that all agree, 

May those memories never fade.

America’s heroes deserve our solemn thanks,

With sacred honor for each one,

Acknowledging memory through their marvelous ranks,

Thank you my friend, for a job well done! 

©  Ol’ Jim Cathey

God Bless our heroes and God Bless America!